An Antoninianus Hoard from the Domitianus Agora of Phaselis Съкровище от антониниани от агората на Домициан във Фаселис
Archaeologia Bulgarica, cilt.30, sa.2, ss.39-52, 2026 (Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 30 Sayı: 2
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Dergi Adı: Archaeologia Bulgarica
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.39-52
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Antoninianus, Domitianus Agora, Late Roman Period, Phaselis, Roman Coin Hoard
- Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This study examines a small hoard of antoninianus coins recovered during the excavations of the Domitianus Agora in the ancient city of Phaselis (Antalya). The hoard was discovered in a cavity between the blocks of a north–south oriented wall separating Room 11 and Room 12 of the agora. The hoard consists of a total of 18 coins, all of which are antoniniani marked with XXI, minted after the Aurelian reform of AD 274 and before the reform of Diocletian. The hoard includes two coins of Probus, two of Carinus, nine of Diocletian, and five of Maximian. In terms of mint distribution, the mint of Cyzicus is represented most frequently with 10 specimens, while Antiochia ranks second with five specimens; the mints of Heraclea, Siscia, and Tripolis are each represented by a single specimen. An examination of the chronological distribution shows that the earliest coin dates to AD 280, while the latest specimens date to AD 294-295. This suggests that the hoard does not represent a longterm accumulation but rather consists of coins that were in circulation around AD 295. The placement of the coins in a cavity within the wall indicates that the hoard was most likely concealed for temporary safekeeping. The small number of coins and their limited total value suggest that this accumulation may represent a short-term saving, possibly derived from the proceeds of a minor commercial transaction or a payment received in return for a service. The aim of this study is to evaluate the hoard recovered during the excavations of the Domitianus Agora in the ancient city of Phaselis within its archaeological context and to present new data on coin circulation in the Late Roman Period. The Phaselis hoard contributes to the understanding of monetary circulation in the region in the late 3rd century AD through the coin types it contains, its mint distribution, and its chronological range. A large proportion of the Late Roman coin hoards known from Anatolia consist of hundreds of coins and are often discovered without a secure archaeological context. In contrast, although the Phaselis antoninianus hoard contains a limited number of coins, it is of particular importance due to its reliable excavation context.